Meghan Markle & Kate Middleton Apparently Had to Take a Security Training Course—& It Involved a Staged Kidnapping

Marrying into a royal family is almost like a fairytale. However, Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton’s story included a chapter all about security, according to a new book on the couple.

Called Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family, the biography features never-before-heard stories about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, including details about the training course Markle and her sister-in-law Middleton had to take after their weddings.  

Per the biography, written by royal reporters Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, both royal women underwent a two-day training course at the British Army's SAS headquarters to prepare them for possible hostage or security situations. The Duchess of Sussex took her course in 2018, while the Duchess of Cambridge participated in 2011. 

The course isn’t just for new members of the royal family, it’s routine for any member to complete. And by the sound of it, things got pretty intense. 

“Meghan took part in a staged kidnapping, where she was bundled up in a car by a 'terrorist,' taken to a different location, and then 'saved' by officers firing fake guns (the kind used in Hollywood films) for realism," part of the book reads. “During the mock kidnapping, Meghan was taught to develop a relationship with the enemy. She was also instructed on how to drive a car while in pursuit.” 

It might sound odd to have to prepare for a kidnapping, but it does happen. In fact, Princess Anne survived an attempted kidnapping back in 1974, something she addresses in her new ITV documentary, Princess Royal: Anne at 70.

It’s important to note that neither the duke nor the duchess had anything to do with the tell-all book. A spokesperson released a statement on behalf of Prince Harry and Markle which read, “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not interviewed and did not contribute to Finding Freedom. This book is based on the authors’ own experiences as members of the royal press corps and their own independent reporting.”

We guess when you’re a royal, you need to prepare for anything.